Apparatus for making crushed ice



G. D. JONES APPARATUS FOR MAKING CRUSHED ICE Filed Dec. 22. 1961 INVENTOR.

% .f. Va/nZflhzZe 2 Jan. 19, 1965 United States Patent Office 3,165,904 Patented Jan. 19, 1965 3,165,904 APPARATUS F01? MAKING CRUSHEI) HIE ten 1). .Iones, 1922 NE. 44th St, {lltlahoma City, 01:12:.

Filed Dec. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 161,483

4 Claims. (Cl. 62-488) This invention relates generally to apparatus for making ice. More specifically, it relates to apparatus for automatically and continuously making crushed ice.

Although a large number of machines have been manufactured in the past to produce crushed ice, most have had little or no success. Many of these machines have successfully produced crushed ice from pellets or other forms of ice, but none that continuously freeze and crush the ice within a single, simple machine have been entirely satisfactory. Perhaps the greatest disadvantage of the crushed ice thus produced has been that it contained too much water and was of a mushy consistency.

The primary object of this invention is to provide improved apparatus that will continuously and automatically produce crushed ice.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved apparatus that will continuously and automatically produce a crushed ice that contains little or no water in the liquid state.

Still another object of this invention is to provide improved apparatus that is rugged, yet relatively simple and easy to manufacture, and will with minimum human attention continuously and automatically produce crushed ice that contains little or no water in the liquid state.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for continuously producing crushed ice that involves the steps of continuously freezing water and then displacing the ice thus produced through a gridlike member that removes, at least substantially, all the unfrozen water from the ice thus produced.

A still further object of this invention is to provide apparatus that includes a refrigerated case wherein the water is frozen, an anger for displacing the ice, and a grid member through which the ice produced is passed wherein substantially all the unfrozen water in the ice is removed therefrom.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent when the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters denote like parts in all views and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation view, partly in cross-section, of a crushed-ice machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan view of a dehydration grid for use in the crushed-ice machine of FIG. 1.

' FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a dehydration grid for use in the crushed-ice machine of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged plan view of the dehydration grid shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an elevation view, partly in cross-section, of an alternate arrangement of the discharge sleeve of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing and to FIGURE 1 in particular, shown therein is a gear motor 1 connected to an upwardly extending tubular case 11 by means of bolts 4. A gasket 3 of any suitable material is interposed between case 11 and motor 1 in such a maner as to make the joint therebetween watertight. Shaft 6, which may be either the output shaft of the motor 1 or connected thereto so that it rotates with the shaft of the motor 1, extends upwardly through a shaft seal 5 and through the helical auger 8. Set screw '7 or any other suitable means, such as a key or splines, may be used to secure auger 8 to shaft 6.

Auger 8 is a helical screw having an outside diameter only slightly less than the inside diameter of case 11. It may be constructed in any conventional manner such as by welding a helical flight about 'a hollow shaft, casting the entire auger or cutting the flight from a solid bar on a lathe and boring the opening for shaft 6. The helical flight on the auger 8 is pitched so that with the motor 1 and shaft 6 rotating the ice formed will be carried upwardly.

Shaft seal 5 is preferably made of neoprene, but any material may be used which is compatible with water and has proper temperature and mechanical characteristics to maintain a water-tight seal with shaft 6.

Motor 1, as used in the preferred form of the invention, is an electrically powered motor (current being provided through lead-in 2) which contains an integral gear-reduction so that shaft 6 will revolve very slowly. Of course, any suitable motor can be used; for example, hydraulically or pneumatically driven motors are entirely satisfactory and are readily available commercially.

Attached to the upper end of shaft 6, which extends through the auger 8, is a rotor 15. Rotor 15 has a plurality of blades which are set at a greater angle than the pitch of the auger flight to assist in discharging the ice.

A dehydration grid 16, which may be arranged and constructed as shown in either FIGURE 2 or FIGURES 3 and 4, is mounted within the upper end of the case 11. The grid 16 as shown in either FIGURE 2 or 3 and 4 includes a plurality of spaced cross members 22 each of which extends downwardly to a knife edge as may be clearly seen in FIGURE 3. Actually, FIGURES 3 and 4 are illustrative of another embodiment of grid that may be used. When a grid of the type shown therein is used, a bushing or bearing is mounted at 25 and shaft 6 is extended so that its upper end is supported by the bearing.

If it is desired to place the crushed ice in a relatively remote location, such as in a bin 19, a removable sleeve 2% may be inserted in the upper portion of the case 11 above grid 16. The sleeve 20 may be of any desired configuration. Another possible configuration of the sleeve 20 is illustrated at 29a in FIG. 5. The sleeve 20 is retained in the bin 19 by means of a retainer 21 which provides a water-tight seal between the bin 19 and sleeve 20.

An annular housing 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as encircling the exterior of a substantial portion of case 11. Within the housing 11 is a tubing 9 which is coiled about the case 11. Each end of the tubing 9 is connected to a refrigeration system (not shown) whereby refrigerant is continually passed therethrough in a manner Well-known in the ice-making and refrigeration art.

The exterior of the housing 11 is covered by an insulation type material 12. In the preferred form of the device, one of the plastic foam materials was used, but there are any number of suitable materials available that have excellent insulation characteristics.

Water supply pipe 14 is connected at one end with the case 11 and at the other with a water supply source (not shown). Valve 13 is located in the pipe 1 between the water supply source and the case 11.

The valve 13 may be of the solenoid-type which would be actuated by a pressure switch mounted in case 11, but a float-actuated valve is preferred because of its low cost, simplicity, and availability. The only function of the valve 13 is to control the water admitted to case 11 so that a predetermined level is maintained in the case 11. Any valve capable of performing this function may be used.

Safety switch 17 is mounted on the upper exterior of the case 11. A switch actuator 17a extends through case 11 and through the opening 24 in the grid 16 so that it is exposed to the interior of case 11. Electric wires 18 are connected with the motor lead-in 2 in such a manner that actuation of the switch 17 breaks the electric circuit and v 3 stops the motor 1. Obviously, the same function can be accomplished pneumatically or hydraulically if any of the other types of motors were used.

A crushed-ice machine constructed in accordance with the invention is placed in operation by admitting water through pipe 14 and valve 13 into case 11. The valve 13 is arranged so that when the proper water level is reached, it will close and no longer admit water to case 11. When the water level drops, valve 13 will again open admitting additional water until desired level is again attained. It has been found that the optimum water level is at about one inch below the top flight of the auger 8. As motor 1 revolves, the auger 8 rotates therewith and refrigerant is pumped through the tubing 9. Expansion of the refrigerant in tubing 9 extracts heat from the case 11 with which the water is in contact. When enough heat has been withdrawn from the water and the case 11, the water begins to freeze next to the case 11.

As previously pointed out, the outside diameter of the auger 8 is only slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the case 11 so that as the water freezes into ice, the ice is scraped from the case and is carried upwardly toward the grid 16. Upon reaching the rotor 15, the movement of the ice is accelerated due to the greater pitch of the rotor blades. As can be readily seen in FIGURES 1 and 3, the ice passing through the grid 16 will be compressed, thus forcing substantially all the un frozen water from the ice. broken and crushed as it pass-es through grid 16.

The rotor 15, with its blades set at a somewhat greater angle than the helix, assists in moving the ice through the grid 16 and sleeve 20 to the bin 19. The provision of the greater angle or pitch on the blades of the rotor 15 aids in preventing the ice from jamming at the grid 16 and will also move the ice much faster to bin 19. Actually, it has been found that, without the accelerated movement provided by the rotor 15, frequent jamming will occur.

If ice having a finer crush than is obtained by use of the device as described is desired, a second grid-like member can be positioned above grid 16. This member does need to be somewhat flexible to prevent jamming of the ice at this stage.

Safety switch 17 functions only if the ice should jam at the grid 16. If a jam occurs, pressure will be exerted on the switch actuator 17a which actuates switch 17 breaking the circuit to the motor 1. This is an important feature because it prevents possible serious damage to the machine.

In practicing this invention, the regrigerated case 11 is supplied with water wherein the water is frozen, the auger 8 scrapes the ice from the case 11 and displaces it upwardly until it reaches the rotor 15 Where its movement is accelerated as it passes. through the grid 16. As the ice passes through the grid 16, the unfrozen water carried with the ice is removed therefrom due to the restriction offered by the grid 16.

Having described but a single embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that this is by way of example only and that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for continuously producing crushed ice, said apparatus including (1) a case adapted to hold Water,

(2) refrigerant coils surrounding said case,

(3) water supply means connected with said case,

(4) control means associated with said water supply means for controlling the water level in said case,

At the same time the ice is 4 (5) auger means rotatably located within said case, (6) means for rotating said auger, and (7) a rotor member located within said case adapted to rotate with said auger means,

(7a) said rotor having blades thereon having a pitch greater than the pitch of said auger means.

2. in apparatus for continuously producing crushed-ice, said apparatus including 1) a case adapted to hold water,

(2) refrigerant coils surrounding said case,

(3) water supply means connected with said case, (4) control means associated with said water supply means for controlling the water level in said case,

(5) auger means rotatably located. within said case,

(6) means for rotating said auger,

(7) a rotor member located within said case adapted to rotate with said auger means,

() said rotor having blades thereon having a pitch greater than the pitch of said auger means, and

(8) a grid member positioned above said auger means and rotor member,

(8a) said grid member including a plurality of spaced-apart cross-members,

(8b) each of said cross-members having a downwardly extending portion which terminates in a sharp lower edge.

3. In apparatus for continuously producing crushed-ice,

said apparatus including 1) a tubular case adapted to hold water,

(2) refrigerant coils surrounding said case,

(3) water supply means connected with said case,

(4) valve means located in said water supply means adapted to open when the water in said case is below a predetermined level and adapted to close when the water in said case reaches the predetermined level,

(5) auger means rotatably located within said case,

(5a) said auger means including a helical flight extending along its outer periphery, said helical flight having an outside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of said case,

(6) motor means adapted to rotate said auger means, (7) a rotor member mounted on the upper end of said auger means,

(70) said rotor member including a plurality of blade portions,

(7b) said blade portions having a pitch thereto greater than the pitch of said helical flight,

(8) and a grid member positioned above said auger means and rotor member,

(8a) said grid member including a plurality of spaced-apart cross-members,

(812) each of said cross-members having a downwardly extending portion which terminates in a sharp lower edge.

4. In the apparatus of claim 3, wherein said apparatus also includes (1) an ice storage bin, (2) a tubular sleeve member having one end portion positioned in said case above said grid member and its other end portion positioned in said bin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,402,931 Thomas June 25, 1946 2,792,042 Dwyer May 14, 1957 2,853,243 Bert Sept. 23, 1958 2,962,878 Keller Dec. 6, 1960 3,034,311 Nelson May 15, 1962 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY PRODUCING CRUSHED ICE, SAID APPARATUS INCLUDING (1) A CASE ADAPTED TO HOLD WATER, (2) REFRIGERANT COILS SURROUNDING SAID CASE, (3) WATER SUPPLY MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID CASE, (4) CONTROL MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID WATER SUPPLY MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE WATER LEVEL IN SAID CASE, (5) AUGER MEANS ROTATABLY LOCATED WITHIN SAID CASE, (6) MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID AUGER, AND (7) A ROTOR MEMBER LOCATED WITHIN SAID CASE ADAPTED TO REMOTE WITH SAID AUGER MEANS, (7A) SAID ROTOR HAVING BLADES THEREON HAVING A PITCH GREATER THAN THE PITCH OF SAID AUGER MEANS. 